Gainesville-based SIMEDHealth announced Wednesday that it joined Innovo Research Network to expand access to clinical research operations for patients while staying under the care of the physicians they already visit.
The partnership also opens SIMEDHealth’s local network of 90 doctors, over 60,000 unique patients and six campuses in North Central Florida. According to a SIMEDHealth press release, the physician-owned company has completed more than 150 clinical trials prior to the partnership with Innovo.
Innovo said in the release that clinical trial sponsors want access to diverse patient populations with as little complexity as possible. Growing its network with SIMEDHealth provides that access, streamlining overhead and centralized budgeting.
“Our physicians have long believed clinical research is essential to improving how diseases are treated,” said Dr. Daniel Duncanson, CEO of SIMEDHealth, in the release “Joining the Innovo Research Network gives our research program the scale and infrastructure to offer more trials to our patients, across more of our specialties and locations.”
SIMEDHealth operates in Gainesville, Ocala, Chiefland, High Springs, Lady Lake/The Villages and Lake City. The main administration office is in Gainesville at its Newberry Road location (4343 Newberry Road).
SIMEDHealth Research has conducted in-house trials focused on respiratory disease, vaccines, infectious disease, gout, weight loss, diabetes, chronic pain, arthritis, and cancer screening. The company has on-site imaging, laboratory, sleep center, and physical therapy services to support the research.
“SIMEDHealth is exactly the kind of partner our model is built for — physician-led, multispecialty, deeply rooted in its community and already experienced in research,” said Jeff James, CEO of Innovo Research, in the release. “Together we can bring more studies to North Central Florida, enroll faster for our sponsors, and make clinical trials a natural part of patient care.”